SOUTH BEND -- The more well-rounded a gay character is on the big screen, the more likely that particular film will be labeled "queer cinema." That was one of several discussions Friday during the panel "Making Gay and Lesbian Film" at the University of Notre Dame's "Gay and Lesbian Film: Filmmakers, Narratives, Spectatorships" event at the DeBartolo Center for the Performing Arts. "You can still have a gay character in a Hollywood film," writer/director Don Roos said, "but they are usually the sidekick and say things like, 'Men are pigs' or 'You go, girl.'æ" About 30 people attended the panel discussion that included Roos, the director of "Happy Endings"; Miguel Albaladejo, director of "Cachorro (Bear Cub)"; Notre Dame film, theater and television professor Jill Godmilow; Notre Dame graduate student and event co-chair Harry Karahalios (who translated for the Spanish-speaking Albaladejo); and event creator and Notre Dame graduate Liam Dacey, who served as moderator. "I think it would sit badly with me to put a stereotypical gay character into one of my films," Roos said. "I think that's very self-hating." Roos then added, "Not unlike being a gay teenager and going to Notre Dame. That was the last self-hating thing I did." Roos, who is openly gay, graduated from Notre Dame in 1977. Albaladejo, through Karahalios' translation, said that although he also is gay, he considers only one of the seven projects he's made to be a "gay" film. Also, as a director, he "feels more of a responsibility to present well-rounded characters that are complex, whether they are gay or straight." The panelists were divided in their opinion of films such as "Brokeback Mountain" and "Capote," which not only feature gay characters but have had both critical and commercial success. "I can't say that I breathe easier knowing we're flying under the banner of this film," Roos said of "Brokeback Mountain," which opened the Notre Dame series Thursday, "but it fits the current climate." "Here's what 'Brokeback' is: It sucks to be gay. It's sad to be gay," he continued. "Gay life is tragic. And if you're gay, you die. These are two characters who don't have a map. Go to L.A. you stupid, stupid cowboys." Both Roos and Godmilow, however, praised Philip Seymour Hoffman's portrayal of Truman Capote. "His homosexuality wasn't really a subject of that film," Godmilow said. "It didn't come out and say he was gay, but it didn't come out and say a lot about the literary questions as well. It walked a very fine line. ... I walked out of that film and said, 'All right, we're not dead yet in this country.'æ" During a more lighthearted moment, Godmilow described Roos' "Happy Endings" as "a very depressing film." "Well, that's a great sell, Jill," the director said. "Happy Endings" will be shown at 7 tonight. "It's really a wonderful film," Godmilow added. "Please see this film." "Whatever," Roos cracked. The panelists also addressed casting straight actors in gay roles and vice versa. "I think most straight actors come to the audition and want to make sure they are playing a character," Roos said. "And it's always the flamboyant, poodle-loving homosexual. One of the things about 'Brokeback' is that they are not putting on this layer of gayness." Although Roos was impressed that Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal gave more truthful portrayals of gay men, he didn't expect to see them in similar roles again. "If you're a straight actor you can do one gay role," Roos said. "If you do two, you might actually be gay." Roos said he knows many gay actors in Hollywood who continue to hide that fact. Although he personally believes everyone should "come out," he also understands that choice in the film industry. "I have no use for actors coming out the same way I don't want to know what political party they belong to," Roos said. "The less you know about an actor, the more you allow them to become something else on screen." When someone in the audience argued that gay actors have a responsibility to come out, Roos shot back. "How many out professors are there are Notre Dame? How many gay priests are there?" he said. "I'd start there."Staff Writer Jeremy D. Bonfiglio jbonfiglio@sbtinfo.com (574) 235-6244